Bed-bottom



UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ALEXANDER W. STEWART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 248,065, dated October 11, 1881.

Application led February 28, 1881. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern y Beit known that I, ALEXANDER W. STEW- ART,residingatChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and acitizen ofthe United States, have invented new and useful Im prove'- ments in Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a fulldescription, reference beinghad tothe accompanying drawings, in whichv y Figure 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a'section at linev m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at line y of Fig. l; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail.

My invention relates to improvements in spring bed-bottoms; and it consists, essentially, in two sets of slats respectively attached at their outer ends to cross-bars, said slats being connected at their inner ends by means of a series of springs, which constitute a central spring portion to the bed-bottom, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The invention further consists ot' other features, which will be described in detail, and pointed out in the claims. l

In the drawings, A represents a frame, in which the bed-bottom proper is secured.

B C are the two parts of the bed-bottom.

a are longitudinal slats in that part of the bed-bottom next to the head of the bed, and b are slats in the other part. The cuter ends of the slats a are suitably secured to a strong cross-bar, D. The inner ends of each of these slats or strips a, except the two outer ones, are provided with a slot, c.

d is a cross-strip, to each end of which the inner end ot' one of the outer slats, a, is secured. On the under side of the slats a, and beneath the cross-strip d, is a cross-bar, e, the outer ends of which are secured to the inner ends of the outside slats or to the strip d, or to both slat a and strip d.

fare pins, which pass through the strip d and through the slots c in the slats a, but not :fein-to thestrip Ol bar e' The space between the strip d and bar eis sufficient to permit the slotted ends'of the slats a to move longitudinally.

The outer ends of the slats b are secured to a E area series of strong coil-springs. One end ofeach spring is connected with the inner end o f one of the slats a, and the other `end to a corresponding slat, b. These springs arc near the center of the bed-bottom.

h are cross-strips, which are. interlaced with the slats a, and b. Their outer ends may be secured to the outside slats.v The parts a, b, d, g, and h may be madeof metal. I

F is a strip or bar, bolted to this bar e, blocks i i being placed between the bars e and F, so that these parts in fact form a truss.

j j are diagonal str ips,'the outer ends of which are secured to the bar D, one near each end, and their inner ends are secured to the bar F or some other part ot' the truss.

.k k are diagonal strips, the outer endsof which are secured to the end bar, D', one near each end.

G are two strong coil-springs. One end of leach is scoured to one end of the bar F, and

the other end to one of the diagonalstrips 7c. These strips lc are provided with a series of holes, either at one end or at both ends, to permit an adjustment of the springs G, so as to increase or decrease their tension. `The bars D D are a little distance from and connected with the end pieces ofthe main frame by means of bolts l. By turning the nuts upon the inner ends of these bolts the tension of the springs E can be adjusted.

In use the bed-bottom constructed as described issecured in a suitable frame at the corners and at the ends only by means of the bolts l, suitable tension being given to the springs, as stated. The two parts B and C and the connecting-springs E can yield under the weight of the occupant, as usual. Each ofthe slotted slats a can also yield alittle independently of thel adjoining slats if more pressure comes upon it than upon the other slats, the slotsV c permitting such separate movement. The' slats b, which are not secured to the bars g, have the same separate movement.

The truss described andthe diagonal strips j c and springs G strengthen the central .part

of the yielding bed-bottom, and furnish some IOC yielding bed bottoms for the purpose meutioned, but this construction requires considerable room.

Iregard the slotted slats a desirable, but not essential.

I have shown my improvements in connection with a folding` bed, the frame beingjointed at m, the springs E serving the usual purpose of springs, and also serving the purpose of a 1o joint, permitting the lower half of the bed-bottom to be folded over upon the upper half; but my improvements are adapted and designed to be used in connection with frames which do not fold, but are rigid.

By making the central crossbar, e, sufciently strong the bar F may be omitted, in which case the diagonal strips;- andthe springs G could be connected to the bar e.

Then the yielding portion ot' a bed-bottom is connected to the frame only at the ends without any central support the sides will be drawn toward each other under pressure. The bar e, being connected rigidly to the outside slats c, wholly obviates this diculty, as to the part B. It' the bar g be strong enough, it will operate in the same way as to the part C.

It is desirable to limit the longitudinal movement of the slats a which are in that part upon which the most strain comes. This is accomplished by the slots c.

The slats b might be provided with slots, but it is not essential in this partof'the bed-bottom.

The bars D D are both a little distance from the end bars of the frame, as shown; but onel What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. In a bed-bottom, the combination of two sets of slats, a and b, respectively attached at their outer ends to the cross-bars D and D', with the series of springs E, connecting theinner ends, of the slats together and constituting a central spring portion to the bed-bottom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the slats a b, attached at their ends, respectively, to the crossbars D and D', and provided with the crossbar F, of the strips j and h, extending diagonally from the bars D D' toward the cross-bar F, the ends ofthe stripsj being attached to the latter, and the strips k being connected therewith by attached intermediate springs, G, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The slats u, secured at their outer ends t0 a bar, D, and provided with a slot,'c, near the other end, in combination with the cross-pieces d e, pinsj', and springs E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.v

4. A bed-bottom consisting of a frame, A, and two parts, B C, composed of slats ct b, connected by springs E, end bars, D D', and crosspieces d g, in combination with diagonal strips j 7c, and springs G, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

ALEXANDE [t W. STE WART.

Witnesses E. A. WEs'r, A. H. ADAMS. 

